Baby Activity Quilt - Farm Themed

[Smokering]

First posted project on Craftster, first completed quilt! I finished this two days ago for my sister-in-law's baby shower... more precisely, I finished it seven minutes before we left! Which accounts for the somewhat dodgy photos and a good deal of the dodgy craftsmanship. :p

I wanted to make something boyish without being all about cars or trains, so I came up with the farm theme. The brown and blue theme was due to my having scads of leftover fabric from a patchwork skirt I made. I designed the quilt myself, using a bit of ClipArt here and there for inspiration. I'm pretty new at sewing, so this was my first attempt at applique (which I like), machine quilting (which makes me see red and want to kill the world - I broke four needles) and binding (which surprisingly, I also like).


The leaves of the sunflower are stuffed with cellophane to make them crunch; the bee comes off the sunflower with Velcro.


The gate opens with a press-stud...


...to reveal a piggy inside.


The birdie squeaks, and is attached with a ribbon for safekeeping.


The pear also comes off with Velcro (the underside of the 3D pear matches the "cut" half, with white flesh and pips)...


...as does the tractor, which is a bag stuffed with beans and wadding.


...and the barn doors open to reveal a bucket with a liftable handle, a satin-stitched cat and a machine-embroidered ladder... rather less skew-wiff than in the photo, it was a funny angle.

[Princess Jenny]

Excellent quilt.  You did a fabulous job!   
Such creativity, and fun baby friendly touches.

Jen

[fustian]

What a wonderful idea!  Your sister-in-law must have just adored it, and I bet it will keep her baby occupied for quite some time - exactly what a mother needs

[Aislynn]

That is the most AWESOME baby quilt, ever!  You did such a fantastic job.  I love the color scheme, the theme, and the fact that it's a remarkably thoughtful gift that I'm sure the new mom will appreciate, and the baby will get tons and tons of use from.  I think we're looking at a future-much-loved-toy, here.

[straw_holder]

Seriously...absolut ely AMAZING!  I have four kids, and any one of them would have LOVED something like this.  I can't imagine the amount of thought and work that went into this gift.  Great job!!

[BethieB]

This is your first completed quilt?!  You're awesome!  I would have just made a stuffed tractor for a toy and called it good...lol, just kidding.  Seriously amazing work, I'm totally impressed. 

[Padester]

I am very impressed!  I'm curious to know what you thought was shoddy about he craftsmanship - looks fantastic to me!!  Such a wonderful gift!  Great work!

[Ukulady]

Dude.
I hope she opened yours last, cause...
everyone else's gifts must have sucked compared to yours.

[Flowers and Lemons]

Oh that is just amazing 
As a first quilt? I can see why you must have seen red. 
Great work!!

[kjlutz]

Wow that is beautiful.  What a one of a kind gift.  I'm sure it will be treasured forever.